We know what Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond and Tony Bennett have in common. They are accomplished music artists considered to be among the best of all time.

And each performer has us to thank for the millions and millions of dollars that we have piled into their bulging bank accounts. Streisand alone profited $66 million from her 2012 Barbra Live Tour. Her net worth in that year was $340 million.Neil Diamond, whose signature song is "Sweet Caroline," has sung to a total worth a sweet $175 million. Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, buy he holds on to a stacked wallet that makes him worth a cool $110 million.Now I don't begrudge anyone who makes a hard-earned dollar, and these artists certainly have done that with their talents, but here's my problem with all three.To get the best ticket to see Streisand, Diamond or Bennett in concert in 2016-17, you have to shell out $1,500 to put your fanny in a seat. Want to take along your significant other? You'll have to drop three grand for a two-hour show. Go on the cheap and it'll cost you around $340 for two nosebleeds.So this is the thanks we get for making them millionaires. Consider what else you get with your golden ticket stub. Streisand is 74 years old. Diamond is 75, and Mr. Bennett just celebrated his 90th birthday. God bless them all, but do you really think they can perform on stage as well as they did 50 years ago? Are any of us as good at anything today that we did in the prime of our lives?C'mon, Barbra! I loved "The Way We Were," but I have come to despise the way you are. Now, Neil, you were thrilling when you sang "Play me" in 1972, but now you're playing us and ripping off the same people who lined your pockets when you were a nobody in the early '60s. And I love your stamina, Tony, but when I watched you lip sync a song and nearly fall off a Macy's Thanksgiving float, I wondered if even you pay 50 bucks to watch any 90-year-old perform on stage for a couple of hours and then say, "He was as good as he ever was."So is it just flat-out greed as to why a concert ticket that cost $8 in 1969 now costs $350, or is there a viable explanation?According to ABC news, massive media conglomerates such as Clear Channel Communications have taken over the concert business and driven up the cost of tickets so much it prompted a Senate investigation. Clear Channel responded and said don't point the finger at them."More than 100 percent of the ticket price increase went to the artists," the company said in a statement.Miles Copeland of Ark 21 records claims that artists set high ticket prices because they are getting ripped off by us, their fans who "steal" or download free music from the Internet.So now it's my fault and your fault that last year alone, Ol' Babs loaded $46 million in her wheelbarrow to roll back to her palatial mansion.Perhaps we are to blame for the great songs they produced and we bought on vinyl for five bucks an album back in the day.But there's a heavy price to pay if you believe you must see them in concert.A friend of mine said for $1,500 a ticket, Neil Diamond would have to sing in his home for a week straight, and that still might not be worth it.To be honest, if Babs, Neil and Tony performed together, they should do a free "Thank You" concert to show fans their gratitude.I'm offering my backyard as the venue. I only have a few lawn chairs, but if you come early, I'll guarantee premium seating along with a free hot dog.If the artists get hungry, they'll have to fork up a C-note apiece for the same dog, and that's without the mustard.Rich Strack can be reached at

katehep11@gmail.com.